Electrical connectors



June 26, 1962 J. soLlNsKY ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed July s1, 1959 Fl G.2

INVENTOR.

JOSEPH SOLNSKY ATTOR N EY United States atent Mice 3,041,572 ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Joseph Solinsky, 21 Carlyle Place, Hartsdale, N.Y. Filed July 31, 1959, Ser. No. 830,914 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-92) This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly, concerns connectors of the frictional connect-disconnect type.

In connecting various electrical devices such as mo.- tors, appliances or the like, to a source of current for energizing the same, it is common to use complementary frictional connectors such as plugs and sockets to effect the desired connection. Such connectors are usually of the straight push in-pull out type and the connection is adequate providing the frictional grip between the associated connector elements is not disturbed.

However, in many cases, due to the manner of use or environmental conditions, constant or occasional stresses or tension may be applied to the engaged connector elements. Such tensions may result in accidental and annoying disconnections. While various locking devices have been suggested to prevent such accidental disconnections, the locking devices represent a substantial additional cost and are usually associated with connectors of special application where cost is a minor factor.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide an improved electrical connector of the plugsocket type, which is of simple construction and economical in cost, yet provides means for avoiding accidental disconnections between interconnected electrical devices, cables and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved electrical connector of the character described, which may be normally used as a conventional plugsocket connector, but when necessary may be converted to a connector having increased gripping action by simple manipulation of a single element of the connector.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electrical connector including simple means for increasing the frictional gripping action of the connector when desired; the connector being compact in form and substantially without increase in bulk as compared to conventional connectors.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electrical connector embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section of a modified form of the electrical connector, illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. l, in association with the conventional, complementary plug.

As shown in FIG. l, the electrical connector embodying the invention, generally designated at 10, comprises a molded plastic base member 11 for carrying a pair of elongated electrical connector elements 12, shown as socket members. Connector is adapted to be used with a conventional plug connector 1'3 having a pair of ixedly spaced, parallel blade or plug connector elements 14 frictionally receivable in socket members 12 for effecting a connection, and removable therefrom, for disconnection.

Base member 11 may be of rectangular shape with a front edge 15, a back edge 16 and side edges 17. The member 11 is split longitudinally inwardly from front Patented June 26, 1962 edge 15 to a point spaced inwardly of back edge 16; thus providing a pair of laterally related base portions 19, 20 which are in effect hinged together by a rear portion of member 11. Opposed edges 22, 23 of base portions 19, 20 taper somewhat toward the base portion 19 to allow for relative movement of said base portions toward and away from each other.

Each of the base portions 19, 20 is longitudinally grooved as at 24 to receive therein the socket connector elements 12. The socket elements 12 include terminal connector lugs 25 at the rear ends; such lugs projecting rearwardly through openings in a transversely disposed raised portion 26 at the rear edge 16 of base member 11. Raised portion 26 is transversely grooved as at 27 to receive the rear edge of a flat plate 28 of insulating material which overlies base portions 19, 20 and the socket members 12 carried therein. Plate 28 is laterally coniined by longitudinally extending raised portions 2 9 at edges 17 of base 11.

.A conductive metal plate 30 may be superposed on insulating plate 28, to provide a ground terminal. Plate 30 has its rear edge also received in groove 27 of raised portion 26, and a terminal connector lug 31 extending from plate 30 projects through an opening in raised portion 26. Ground terminal plate 30 may be suitably engaged by a contact element, not shown, on connector 13, or other interconnected device. Plate 30 is also laterally conned between raised base portions 29.

Means is provided for eiecting movement of base portions 19, 20 away from each other. To this end, a screw 32 having a wedge shaped head 33 is located between base portions 19, 20; head 33 being received in complementary tapered openings 34 at opposed edges 22, 23, adjacent front edge 15. The upstanding threaded portion of screw 32 passes through registering openings in plates 28, 3i) and has a wing nut 35 and lock nut 36 screwed on said threaded portion.

It will be apparent, that base portions 19, 20 will be in parallel relation, thus allowing plug elements 14 to be frictionally received in socket elements 12. If t-he grip between associated elements 12, 14 is to be increased, wing nut 35 is turned in a direction to displace base portions 19, 20 apart by the upward movement of wedge head 33 of screw 32. A very slight displacement of the socket members 12 from their normal parallel relation will exert a substantial gripping action on the engaged plug elements 14. The lock nut 36 retains the wing nut 35 in its turned position to maintain the desired grip on the plug connector 13.

An alternative form of the invention is shown in FIG.

4, wherein connector 10 is similar to device 10 except as hereinafter pointed out. In lieu of wedge means for effecting relative movement of base portions 19, 20, in device 10', a transversely extending screw Y37 is disposed in aligned openings 38 in said base portions, with screw head 39 bearing on edge 17a while a thumbnut 40 screwedl on screw 37 bears on edge 17b.

In device 10 base portions 19, 20 are moved toward each other by turning nut 40 in the proper direction, thus displacing socket elements 12 from their normal parallel relation, to increase the grip on plug elements 14, as previously described. Inwardly turned flanges 41 on raised lateral portion 29 aid in confining plates 28, 30 in place. l

It is understood that base member 11 is molded of a plastic such as vinyl copolymer, polystyrene, nylon or the like, which has a degree of resiliency to allow for relative movement of hinged base portions 19, 20 towards and away from each other; the rear hinge portion being of a thickness to avoid cracking despite repeated hinged movements of said base portions.

While connector elements 12 are shown as socket members, it will be apparent, that such elements may be plug elements and the complementary connector will carry ixedly. spaced, parallel socket elements for engagement by -therrplug elements .which canA be` moved toward and Y away from each other, .asdescribed above, to achieve portions, each of said first mentioned connector elements including terminal means extending therefrom, and means for laterally displacing said Ease portions to increase the frictional grip between the respective engaged pairs of connector elements, Said z.displaoirig means comprising a screw disposed between-opposededge portions of said base portions, ,said vscrew:including a wedge head portion in wedging relation to `the opposed Yedge portions of said base portions,`the threaded portion of said screw extending through an opening in said cover plate andfa nut on said screw whereby rotation of said nut on said screw in one direction will wedge said base portions away from each other, the upper surfaces of lsaid hase portions .hav-

Having thus` disclosed my invention, I claim as new and .desire to protect by LettersPatent:

1. An electrical connector comprising a at molded plastic base member split fromone end thereof to avpoint n short of the other end thereof to provide .laterally related base portions, each base portion having a groove ing sliding contact with the bottom surface of said cover plate.

2. An lelectrical connector as in claim 1 and further including'a conductive ground plate overlying said cover plate, -s aid lground plate including terminal vmeans extherein, and a portion resiliently and .integrally interconnecting said split base portions at said other end thereof, said base portions being larranged for movement away from each other, an elongated electrical connector element longitudinally disposed in the groove of each .baseportiom said connector elements being normally in -parallel relation -for frictionally engaging a pairiof tixedly spaced parallel complementary electrical connector vele-l ments, an insulating cover plate overlying said base fportionsand the connector elements disposed .therein-for retaining the connector elements inthe grooves of said base Y 3 tending therefrom, said ground vplate having an opening therein in registry vwith the .opening in said cover yplate for passing the threaded portion of said screw.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STAT-ES-PATENTS 1,119,864 Ovington etal. Dec. 8, v1914 1,865,600 Welch ,.f July 5, 1932 2,474,454 Avery r June 28, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 274,606 'GreatBritain Julyf28, v17927 463,842 'pGreatBfritain p Apr. 7, 1,937

1,122,807 "France May 28,21956 

